This is both a hard and joyous blog post to write. It will be the final entry to "The Baynhams" blog.

The blog was started in August 2005 and was intended to be a way to keep in touch with friends and family in Ireland and the UK as we planned our emigration adventure Down Under. Over the last 10 years I have written and published 2,300 posts and countless photos of our life as we adjusted to a new culture, made new friends, welcomed countless overseas visitors and celebrated amazing milestones. It has been a fantastic experience and I have met some truly wonderful blogging friends along the way.

Today we celebrate the 10 year anniversary since we landed in Sydney airport with three kids and eight suitcases. The kids are now teenagers and I have gone from being a stay-at-home mum to working as a nurse once again. Like everyone else time is a precious commodity and this year it has been an ever increasing challenge finding a balance between all the many jigsaw pieces of our family life. I realise that I have had less time to post here on the blog and I feel this is a perfect time to bring it to a close.

And so to everyone reading this post. Thank- you so much for being a part of this wonderful adventure with me. I have truly appreciated the friendship you have shown me, the comments you have left. I wish for you every happiness. The last ten years have been a roller-coaster ride and I'm so happy you have been a part of it!

Oh my goodness!!! I feel like I'm saying goodbye to an old friend!!! Best wishes to you and your beautiful family. I hope you continue to stop by once in a while just to let me know how you're doing. It's been such a pleasure getting to know you and your beautiful family over these years. Your blog was one of the first ones I ever began to follow and I will miss you for sure!!! God bless you all!!! xoxoxo

Hi Gina .I might not of come over to your blog every post but when I did your posts were always enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your life in Oz for the last ten years. I have been blogging for 8 years might be 9 now. Incredible isn't it. I know your blog will be missed. Take care Anne.

I didn't realise that we arrived in Australia just about the same time. We were only planning to be here a year though.... but that's another story!I'm (selfishly) sad that you are stopping writing in your blog but I do know how hard it is to keep up with life events. Maybe you could just do an annual post? I know how much I sometimes enjoy just browsing back through mine and reminiscing. Wishing you and the family all the best.x

So sorry to hear this Gina. I have followed your blog nearly every week on Friday at 5 o'clock whilst still at work to see what you have all been up to. I am so glad that everything has worked out and your life is settled and happy. Adam and Sian are 1 day apart in age and they are going through the same stages together only Sian is making a better job of it. Adam is 6ft 5 and still growing but I understand how hard it is to let them grow and become the adults that they are desperately trying to be.Overstone remains the same as it always was except we are having 2000 new houses being added to it over the next few years so we will no longer be a village. Alan has retired and I am still lecturing. I am thinking of moving to India to teach and have a new adventure for a while. You started a trend.Good luck and best wishes and drop by occasionally so we can see what you are up to. I will keep sneaking a cheeky look just in case!!!